Elastic bracelet chain



1931 v s. A. JoHN'soN 1,874,538

ELASTIC BRACELET CHAIN Filed Feb. 10, 1931 INVENTOR. sylvmsfr fifowsvw A TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 39, 1932 SYLVESTER rarest errics A. JOHNSON, E NORTH PROVIDENCE, B-I'IODE ISLAND, .ASSIGNOB TO ALBERT E. B. SPEIDEL, OF EDGE'WOOD, RHODE ISLAND ELASTIC BRACELET CHAIN Application filed February. 10, 1981. Serial No. 514,721.

This invention relates to a bracelet chain which is elastically extendible, and has for its objectto provide a series of units which may be quickly assembled from a plurality of like parts and yet be strong and durable and firmly held together.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a series of units each having two relatively slidable links which will be guided in their slidin action one relative to another during their relative movement.

Another obj ect of theinvention is the provision of a construction by which each of the units may be detachably connected one to the other by manual manipulation of the links.

A further obj ct of the invention is the provision of a construction which will be flexible .one link upon the other without extending the sliding parts against the action of the resilient spring which tends to contract the links, thereby eliminating all obstruction to such flexing movement. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction which may be exceedingly narrow and yet onewhich will function effectively to maintain a watch or the. like snugly about the wrist of the wearer.

-With these and other objects and advan- 00 tageous features in view, the invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawing: 7

Fig. 1 is a top planview of the chain;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig.3 is a bottom view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a section on substantially the line l{l of Figure 2;

' Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 with each of theunits in extended position;

' Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the outer guide link; I

. 7 is a perspective view of the inner band-shaped slide link;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the yoke member for connecting the guide and slide links of each unit; i

Fig. 9 is a perspective view ofaguide link and a slide liiik in the position just after the spring is inserted and before the slide link is moved to its assembled position in the guide link;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view after the slide link is moved to complete the assembled position with the securing fingers bent to hold the frame or yoke member in position; i

Fig. 11 is a section through the extended portion of the slide link of Figure 10 and showing the fingers as holding the yoke in position, Figure 11 being inverted with reference to Figure 10;

r Fig. 12 is a central sectional view through one of the units showing the guiding action of the bearing surfaces of the slide link on the yoke or frame member.

In the construction of elastically extendible bracelets, a number of parts are used which must be assembled, and in the type of bracelet which is used with the bagot watch, the bracelet is of a width not greater than oneeighth of an inch, thus necessitating making the parts exceedingly small to handle in as- 75 semhling; and in orc er that the spring which is dillicultto handle because of its resilience, may be assembled in the unit with maximum ease, I have used a yoke or frame member for connecting the links and pivoted it in the guide link so that it and the slide link may be swung completely out of the guide link to permit the slide link to be moved sideways relative to the yoke member, and a spring inserted therein after which the guide link and yoke with the spring inserted may be swung to a position between the walls of the guide link where it may be easily secured in position by folding inwardly the fingers or upsetting any part of the stock thereover to prevent accidental swingin of these parts after assembly, I have utilized the frame member which'permits easy assembly as a guide to asist in the guiding action of the slide link with reference to the guide link; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

position.

With reference to the drawing, designates the units which are connected together in series, each unit of which comprises a guide link designated 16 and provided with a top wall 17, side walls 18 with pivot ears 19 at one end and arcuately shaped recesses 20 at the opposite end to receive these ears to permit free flexing action of the units one with reference to the other.

The slide link is designated 21 and is a generally band shaped strip having a top wall 22, bottom wall 23 and connecting end wall 24 with a hook 25 provided on the opposite end of the top wall 22 which is closed by the bottom wall 23 which acts as a tongue. The end wall and' hook'are each cut away abruptly :guprovide a bearing surface 26 atone end '27 at the other'end to assist in guiding the slide link along the yoke designated generally 28.

This yoke 28 is generally of frame shape and has trunnion portions 29' pivotally mounted in the openings 19 in the guide link, the same being slidably received in the'slide link 21 and'provided with a finger 30 to extend into and assist in positioning the spring 31 mounted between the end wall 24 of the slide link and the end cross bar 32 of the yoke.

In assembly, the yoke and guide link are in the relative positions illustrated in Figure 9, and the slide link 21 is swung relative to the yoke. When in this position, the

spring may be readily inserted and the slide link returned to the position illustrated in Figure 9, after which both the slide link and yoke are swung about the pivot trunnions I 29 to position the parts, as illustrated in Figure 10 andto hold these parts in this Fingers 33 are folded across theend 32 of vthe frame or yoke member, as illustrated in 1Fi ures 10'and 11 to prevent the yoke from swinging relative to the guide link after assembled. The top wall 22 of theslide link is uided along the inner surface of the top wa l 17 of the guide link while the bearing surfaces 26 and 27 just below the top wall 22" engage one side of the yoke or frame member to slide therealong and be guided thereby, while the edges of the wall 22' are guided between the side walls 18 of the guide link during the sliding movement thereofi The hook 25 of the slide link may be opened by the bottom wall or tongue 23 so that it :may be attached to the cross bar 34 of the .yoke or frame link for detachable connection of the units one with the other, and the tongue at its end is offset or provided with a step at its end to cause its outer surface tolie flush with the hook.

While I have described certain construction forms which embody the principles of my'invention, it is obvious that other desired changesin arrangement may be made within the spirit and'the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An extension bracelet chain, comprising a series of units, each comprising a guide link and a slide link, a yoke member of generally rectangular shape with laterally extending trunnions pivotally secured to one of said links and slidably related to the other link, sprin means actin between said yoke and said slidably related ink tending to contract the links of each unit.

2. An extension bracelet chain, comprising a, series of units, each comprising a uide link and a slide link, a yoke member 0 generally rectangular shape with laterally extending tr'unnions pivotally secured to one of said links and slidably related to the other link, spring means acting between said yoke and said slidably related link tending to contract the links of each unit, and means for detachably connecting the slidably related link of one unit to the yoke of the next unit.

3. An extension bracelet chain, comprise ing a series of units, each comprising a guide link and a slide link, a yokemember secured to one of said links and slidably relatedto the other link, spring means acting between said yoke and said slid-ably related link tending to contract the links of each unit, and means for detachably connecting the slidably related link of one unit to the yoke of the next unit, said means comprising a hook at one end of said link and a resilienttongue to close said hook.

4. An extension bracelet chain, comprislink and a band-shaped sli e link, a yoke ,member provided with portions. integral therewith engaging said guide link andextending through said slide link, a spring acting between said yoke and slide link tending to contract the links of each unit.

5. An extension bracelet chain, comprising a series of units, each. comprising a guide link and a band-shaped slide link, a yoke member provided with integral portions pivotally engaging one end of said .guide link and extending through said slide; link, bendable fingers at the other end of said guide link to hold the yoke in place against swinging movement after assembled, and a springacting between said yoke and slide link tending to contract the links of each unit.

6. An extension bracelet chain, comprising a series of units each comprising a guide link and a band-shaped slide link,'a yoke.

member secured to said guide link and extending through said slide link, a spring acting between said yoke and slidelin'k tending to contract the links of each unit,

7. An extension bracelet chain, comprising a series of units, each comprising a guide link and a band-shaped slide link, a yoke member secured to said guide link and extending through said slide link, a spring acting between said yoke and slide link tending to contract the links of each unit, said slide link having bearing portions adjacent both of its ends to engage one surface of said yoke to be slidably supported thereby.

8. A bracelet chain comprising a series of units, each comprising a guide link having top and side walls, a band-shaped slide link engaging said walls and guided thereby, a frame member extending through the slide link, means for pivoting said frame member adjacent one end of the guioe link, whereby said slide link may have a spring assembled in it between the slide link and frame in a position outside of the guide link and hen swung on the pivot of the frame member to a position between the side walls, and means for maintaining said slide link and frame be tween said side walls.

9. A bracelet chain comprising a series of units, each comprising a guide link having top and side walls, a band-shaped slide link engaging said walls and guided thereby, a frame member extending through the slide link, means for pivoting said frame member adjacent one end of the guide link, whereby said slide link may have a spring assembled in it between the slide link and frame in a position outside of the guide link and then swung on the pivot of the frame member to a position between the side walls, and means for maintaining said frame member assembled position.

10. A bracelet chain comprising a series of units, each comprising a guide link having top and side walls, a band-shaped slide link engaging said walls and guided thereby, a frame member pivoted adjacent one end of the guide link, whereby said slide link may have a spring assembled in it between the slide link and frame in a position outside of the guide link and then swung on the pivot of the frame member to a position between the side walls, and fingers on the side wall at the opposite end of the guide link to fold over said frame member to maintain it in assembled position.

11. A bracelet chain comprising a series of units, each comprising a guide link having top and side walls, a band-shaped slide link engaging said walls and guided thereby, a frame member extending through the slide link, means for pivoting said frame member adjacent one end of the guide link, whereby said slide link may have a spring assembled in it between the slide link and frame in a position outside of the guide link and then swung on the pivot of the frame member to a position between the side walls, means for detachably connecting the slide link of one unit to the frame member of the next unit, and means for maintaining said slide link and frame between said side walls.

12. A bracelet chain comprising a series of units, each comprising a guide link having top and side walls, a band-shaped slide link engaging said walls and guided thereby, a frame member extending through the slide link, means for pivoting one end of said frame member adjacent one end of the guide link, whereby said slide link may have a spring assembled in it between the slide link and frame in a position outside of the guide link and then swung on the pivot of the frame member to a position between the side walls. means for detachably connecting the slide link of one unit to the frame member of the next unit, comprising a hook on said slide link to engage the yoke at its pivot end and a tongue to close said hook, and means for maintaining said slide link and frame between said side walls.

13. A bracelet chain comprising a series of units, each comprising a guide link having top and side walls, a band-shaped slide link engaging said walls and guided thereby, a frame member extending through the slide link, trunnions on said frame member for pivoting said frame member adjacent one end of the guide link, whereby said slide link may have a spring assembled in it between the slide link and frame in a position outside of the guide link and then swung on the pivot of the frame member to a position between the side walls, and means for maintaining said link and frame between said side walls.

14. A bracelet chain comprising a series of units, each comprising a guide link having top and side walls, a band-shaped slide link engaging said walls and guided thereby, a frame member extending through the slide link, trunnions on said frame member for pivoting said frame member adjacent one end of the guide link, whereby said slide link may have a spring assembled in it between the slide link and frame in a position out side of the guide link and then swung on the pivot of the frame member to a position between the side walls, and fingers on the side wall at the opposite end of the guide link to fold over said frame member to maintain it in assembled position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

SYLVESTER A. JOHNSON. 

